Emma McBride (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The light drizzle didn't dampen the spirits of those who joined me in the Grant McBride Memory Walk at Long Jetty on Saturday. With 368 registered walkers and more than 300 extra donations, we raised $20,000 for Dementia Australia. It was an incredible effort, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported us and took part. We had walkers from near and far. Members of the Forget Me Not team came all the way from the UK and raised $530.

Thank you to our top five individual fundraisers: Wendy Lee, Samantha Boyce, Mary Trotter, Simon Wood and Georgina Chalker, who ran a personal best. Thank you to the top fundraising teams: Integrated Living, Team Dotty, the McBride family—thank you to my mum, Barbie, and all of my family—Total Recall, and the A-Team. Thank you to Westfield Tuggerah and Wyong Rugby League Club for your generous donations. Thank you to Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe for your best wishes and to Megan Thomas for your support. Thank you to The Entrance Men's Shed for the barbecue and $250 donation, to Wyong Lions Club for your support, and to Lots of Watts for the use of your PA. Special thanks go to Central Coast Dementia Alliance, to YODSS, to StarFM and to NBN TV for your coverage, and to other Central Coast media for your generous promotion.

I want to thank my team, especially Lisa, and our hardworking volunteers. Finally, thank you to my colleagues: the member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley; the member for The Entrance, David Mehan; the member for Wyong, David Harris; Central Coast Councillors Chris Holstein, Jeff Sundstrom and Kyle MacGregor; the Labor candidate for Robertson, Anne Charlton; and the member for Maribyrnong, Bill Shorten, for your best wishes and commitment to improving the lives of Australians living with dementia. I am so pleased to have been able to hold the Grant McBride Memory Walk and raise $20,000 for Dementia Australia.